Nellie King dies at 82

Nelson “Nellie” King, the former pitcher and broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates has died after a battle with colon cancer and pneumonia. He was 82. King pitched for the Pirates in the 50s, but is perhaps best known for his broadcast career which began in the 1960s at stations in Latrobe, Kittanning and Greensburg where he covered high school sports. It was in 1967 that he joined Bob Prince and Jim Woods announcing Pirate games when Don Hoak moved back to the dugout as coach. That position lasted until 1975 but King returned during the final season at Three Rivers Stadium as color commentator for one game.

It was in 1975 that Mr. King took a job at Duquesne University where he served as sports information director, publicity director for the Eastern Eight (now Atlantic 10) Conference and coached the school’s men’s golf team. He still got behind the microphone as the color commentator for Duquesne’s men’s basketbal games for two decades. King retired in 1992.

Just last year, King’s book titled, “Happiness is Like a Cur Dog: The Thirty-Year Journey of a Major Leage Baseball Pitcher and Broadcaster” was released.

Source: PG